Elective course - Social Cognition
Course content
Social cognition refers to the cognitive processes that enable individuals to function within a social group. The course will provide a contemporary overview of theoretical frameworks and empirical research in this area. The lectures, seminars, readings, and assignments will cover various empirical methods from behavioral assessments to neuroimaging, and assumes prior knowledge or interest, and ideally coursework in, empirical research in cognitive science, psychology, or similar. The course will consider how we perceive and understand others, how the presence of others changes our cognitive processing and how our cognitive processes are optimized for group living. Topics will include agency, imitation, communication, mentalizing, the relationship between self and other, social influence on cognitive processes, culture, and joint action. Throughout, the course will touch on the developmental and evolutionary origins of our core social cognitive capacities, how human social cognition compares to that of other animals, and what neural processes support these capacities.
The course is open to:
- Bachelor Programme in Psychology
The course is open to:
- Exchange and Guest students from abroad
Knowledge:
- Define core concepts, domains, and positions within the field of social cognition.
- Account for methods, including neuroscientific methods, for studying social cognition.
- Understand ways in which social context can modify cognitive processing.
- Describe developmental origins of core social cognitive skills.
Skills:
- Contextualize concepts and discussions introduced in the course to core scientific texts in the field of social cognition.
- Use concepts about social cognition in adequate ways.
- Interpret the relevance of empirical studies in choosing between different theories and models of social cognition.
- Discuss the relationship between developmental contexts and the social cognitive skills of adults.
Competences:
- Evaluate how empirical research is related to positions in core theoretical debates in the field of social cognition.
- Assess the adequacy of different empirical methods to address research problems in the field of social cognition.
The classes consist of lectures and seminar classes
7x4 hours (2h lecture + 2h seminar) blocked over the first half of
the semester.
Week 36-41+43
Syllabus cf. curriculum:
BA: 400 compulsory, 200 self-selected
KA: 600 compulsory, 200 self-selected
An up-to-date syllabus list will be available in the course room on Absalon just before the start of the semester.
When registered you will be signed up for exam.
- Full-degree students – sign up at Selfservice on KUnet
- Exchange and guest students from abroad – sign up through Mobility Online and Selfservice- read more through this website.
- Credit students from Danish universities - sign up through this website.
The dates for the exams are found here Exams – Faculty of Social Sciences - University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Please note that it is your own responsibility to check for overlapping exam dates.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Home assignment
- Type of assessment details
- For the exam, students will identify an open question within
the topics of social cognition, covered in the course, and design a
research proposal for a study/project addressing the question.
Students will have the opportunity to receiver peer and instructor
feedback on parts of their proposal, and will write the final
assignment at home (individually max. 6 pages, in groups of 2 max.
8 pages, in groups of 3 max. 10 pages).
As course activity and a requirement for the exam, 1-page outlines of research proposals will have to be submitted prior to the exam period, which will be distributed for peer review. Each individual / group will review 2 other proposals and submit their reviews to the course instructors. Feedback will be received at the beginning of exam period and will have to be incorporated in the final assignments.
In addition, during the semester, students will be expected to participate in class activities such as group work or short presentations. - Examination prerequisites
-
For all elective courses, the attendance requirement is 75%. However, the course is based on full participation.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
Unless otherwise specified, the Department of Psychology prohibits the use of generative AI software and large language models (AI/LLMs), such as ChatGPT, for generating novel and creative content in written exams. However, students may use AI/LLMs to enhance the presentation of their own original work, such as text editing, argument validation, or improving statistical programming code. Students must disclose in an appendix if and how AI/LLMs were used; this appendix will not count toward the page limit of the exam. This policy is in place to ensure that students’ written exams accurately reflect their own knowledge and understanding of the material.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
- Exam period
-
Exam information:
The examination date can be found in the exam schedule here
- Re-exam
-
Research proposal but on a new topic, different to the topic submitted for peer feedback (if any). No additional peer feedback will be given prior deadline.
Reexam information:
The reexamination date/period can be found in the reexam schedule here
Criteria for exam assessment
Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the course.
To obtain the top grade “12”, the student must with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.
To obtain the passing grade “02”, the student must in a satisfactory way be able to demonstrate a minimal acceptable level of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 14
- Seminar
- 14
- English
- 28
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- APSB21762U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Bachelor
Full Degree MasterMaster’s minor subject
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Schedulegroup
-
C
- Studyboard
- Department of Psychology, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Psychology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinators
- Dora Kampis (2-72794e7e81873c79833c7279)
- Katarina Begus (3-7a77714f7f82883d7a843d737a)
Are you BA- or KA-student?
Courseinformation of students